Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan

5 reviews

lunep's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 Resolution for 2024: start writing at least a couple lines per book

I really liked the second half but I had started to get bored at the end of the first half. This one was different from the first two in that it didn't start as slow as the other ones, in fact, the expedition started pretty quick, but when the trouble started to arise it started to get a little dull. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kbz_22's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I just finished "The Voyage of the Basilisk" by Marie Brennan, and I've got some thoughts to share. I'd give it a solid 4/5 stars.

So, here's the deal: this book starts off kinda slow. It's all about setting the stage for the big voyage. At first, I was like, "Come on, let's get to the action." But then, once they actually set sail, things started to pick up.

The adventure really kicks in once they're out at sea, and it becomes more exciting and impressive. You get to see the characters in their element, dealing with all kinds of challenges. The descriptions of the places they visit and the dragons they encounter are vivid and captivating.

So, yeah, it might take a bit to get going, but if you stick with it, "The Voyage of the Basilisk" becomes a thrilling and adventurous ride that's totally worth the slow start. If you're into maritime adventures and discovering strange dragons in uncharted waters, this one's for you.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

achingallover's review

Go to review page

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

szuum's review

Go to review page

adventurous slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

the_escapist's review

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

In this third instalment, Isabella & co voyage across the seas to study giant sea serpents and investigate how closely they’re related to other dragon species.
 
It’s fairly optimistic in tone, very adventurous (remains me of Around the World in 80 Days in some aspects), and the writing style is elegant without being dense. There’s a lot of humanity to it without overlooking the more negative aspects, and there are nice friendships that develop along the way. There’s also explorations of different cultures, a tiny bit of archaeology, sprinkles of humour, and the pacing is medium-slow. I should probably point out that the focus is very much on the journey and adventure rather than just the dragons or the characters though.

This has been my favourite in the series so far. Loved some of the new characters who were introduced (and hope to see them again later in the series), and I love all things underwater, and I ended up even more satisfied than I was expecting on that front. A very solid and fun read overall, with a few laughs and slow but satisfying character development.

Another thing – how great is it to have a book for an adult market which has illustrations inside? I wish more books did this because it adds such a nice touch to the reading experience, especially in this genre where the only illustration you usually get is a map at the start. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...